Rapper Jelly Roll opened up to Congress about his past as a drug dealer who is now working to stop the deadly fentanyl crisis sweeping the country.
Jelly Roll, 39, whose given name is Jason DeFord, is an increasingly popular rapper turned country singer. He has spent time in prison for several crimes, including aggravated robbery and drug possession.
The former convict left his life of crime for a career in music recently took home his first Country Music Association (CMA) award for Best New Artist of 2023.
His biggest hits include “Save Me” and “Need a Favor,” which chronicles his battle with drugs and his reliance on God to get him through difficult times in his life.
The former drug dealer told senators in emotional testimony Thursday that “I was part of the problem” when it comes to the fentanyl crisis, which is killing about 190 Americans every day.
“I stand here now as a man who wants to be part of the solution,” the “Son of a Sinner” singer continued.
The country star went on to say that he has attended “more funerals than I care to share” and is determined to raise awareness about the drug and mental health crisis gripping the country.
The former drug dealer told senators in emotional testimony Thursday that “I was part of the problem” when it comes to the fentanyl crisis, which is killing about 190 Americans every day.
‘I have attended more funerals than I care to share with you. This committee, I could sit here for days and cry over the caskets I carried of people I loved dearly, deep in my soul,” the Grammy-nominated singer said.
‘Good people. Not just drug addicts. Uncles, friends, cousins, normal people – some people who just had a car accident and started taking a painkiller make it through. One thing led to another…how quickly it gets out of hand,” Jelly Roll continued.
“It’s hard to move forward when your past is in your back pocket,” he says of his previous felony conviction.
He said he considers himself a perfect spokesperson for the fentanyl epidemic because he is not a politician and does not consider himself political.
‘I am a musician and I have no political alliance. “I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican,” he declared.
He complained about his past criminal activities, which have forever deprived him of his right to vote.
As a result, “I’ve never paid attention to a political race in my life,” he said.
“Ironically, I think that makes me the perfect person to speak on this, because fentanyl transcends partisanship and ideology.”
Jelly Roll hopes to erase the negativity surrounding drug addiction by working on solutions.
Tranquillizer, approved for veterinary use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has infiltrated the illegal drug market in the US
Jason ‘Jelly Roll’ DeFord responds to questions during the US Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs hearing
“America has been known to bully and shame drug addicts instead of dealing and trying to understand what the real root of the problem is,” the rapper continued.
He will be on Capitol Hill Thursday to ask lawmakers to pass the FEND Off Fentanyl Act.
The bill tackles the root of the fentanyl crisis – Mexican cartels and Chinese suppliers – smuggling the deadly drug into the US
Jelly Roll co-hosted ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest with Ryan Seacrest along with LL Cool J, Megan Thee Stallion and Sabrina Carpenter.